Air-gun



' (No Modell.)

' W. F. MARKHAM.

AIR GUN.

-110.372,161. Patented 0011.25, 1887.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM F. MARKHAM, OF PLYMOUTH, MICHIGAN.

Al R-GUN.

SPECIFICATION 'forming part of Letters Patent No. 372,161, dated October 25, 1887.

Application filed May 12, 1887. Serial No. 237,957. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern: y

Beit known that I, WILLIAM F. MARKHAM, ofPlymouth, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Air-Guns; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in air-guns. I

The invention consists in the peculiar construction of theparts and their various cornloinations, as more fully hereinafter described, shown, and claimed.

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of my improved air-gun as extended and readyV for use. Fig. 2 isa like section showing the position of the parts in setting the gun. Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the gun set and ready for discharge. Fig. 4. is avertical crosssection on the line w x in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a cross-section on the line y y in Fig. 1. Fig. 6 shows the inner end of the barrel with its retainingspring.

In the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification, A is the stock, in

the front end of which there is formed an airchamber, B, the inner wall, a, of which is a metallic cylinder.

C is a piston attached'to a rod, D, terminating in a right-angled elbow, b, the end of which terminates in a loop, c, which embraces and traverses the guide-rod d, which is secured at the bottom of the slot e.

E is a cylinder formed in the stock below the air-cylinder B, and has secured within it a coil-spring, F, at one end, while the opposite end of such spring engages at h with the elbow of the rod D.

la is a hook which forms a part of the trigger G.

H is the barrel, the bore Z of which is on the same axial line with that of the air-cylinder B. This barrel is pivotally secured to the front end of the stock by means of the hinge I, and has let into its rear end a rubber packing, m, which acts as a buffer, and at the same time,when the gun is set, prevents the escape of 5o air from the air-cylinder, except through the bore ofthe barrel. To the rear end of the barrel is secured one endof a spring, S, the free end of which projects through a slot, s, formed in the barrel, as is shown in Fig. 6, the end of the spring projecting slightly within the barrel. This spring, as the missile or shot is inserted into vthe barrel, as hereinafter described, presses upon such missile or shot and prevents the same from accidentally rolling out.

J is a spring-lever attached to the barrel, and adapted,when the gun is set, as shown in Fig. 3, to engage with a stop, n, on the stock,

and hold the two parts in their relative positions for use.

K is a spring-lever, the front end of which is pivotally secured to the barrel at o, while the opposite end terminates in a loop, which embracesthe guide-rod D in front of its engagement with the piston-rod.

In practice the lever J is disengaged from its stop and the barrel folded back upon the under side of the stock, as shown in Fig. 2. The rod K, pushing back the piston-rod, thereby withdraws the piston to the end of its cylinder and extends the spring until the loop c on the piston-rod engages with the hook lc of the trigger. Now the bridge end of the barrel is exposed and the missile or shot is inserted. Then the barrel is unfolded and locked'into its original position and the gun is ready to discharge. Pulling the trigger disengages the hook or detent from its connection with the piston-rod, causes the violent contraction of the spring to its original position, and, carrying the piston in the air-cylinder in the same direction,com presses the air t-hercin and forces the same violently through the barrel and expels the shot.

By making the bore ofA the barrel in axial line with the air-cylinder I economize space and provide for a more direct and positive movement of the piston.

What I claim as my invention is'- 1. In a breech-loading airgun, the combination, with the barrel, of au air-cylinder in axial line with the bore of said barrel, a pist0n in said cylinder, a piston-rod havingaright angled elbow, and a coil-spring located within a chamber beneath the air-cylinder and connected with the elbow of said piston-rod and ICO extended by folding the barrel upon the stock, substantially as described.

2. In a breech-loading ail-gun, the stock, pivoed barrel, and air-cylinder, conibi ned with a piston within the air-cylinder, a spring arranged to aetuate said piston and to be extended by the folding' of t-he barrel upon the stock, and a lever or push-rod, K, pivotally connected to the barrel and slidingly connected with the st0clr,and the rod d, serving as a guide for both the piston and push rod, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a breech-loadingair-gun, wherein the rear end 0f the barrel is hinged to the fronb end of the stock, the spring-lever J, pivoted at one end to the barrel, and stop n on the stock engaging the free end of said lever, substantially as and for the purposes described.

4. In a breechdoading air-gm), the eonibination, with the stock having aireylinder, the

barrel pivoted to said stock, and the piston in Said cylinder', of the piston-rod D, having right-angled elbow b, the spring Rattached at one end to said elbow, the trigge1G,engaging said elbow, and the lever K, pivoted abone end to the barrel and its other end slidingl y conneet-ed with the stock, substantially as described.

5. In a breeclrloading air gun, the combination of the following elements: a stock, A, aircylinder B therein, piston C within said cylinder, piston-rod D, connected with said piston, Spring-chamber E in said stock beneath the air-cylinder, spring Fin said chamber and connected with the pist0nrod, trigger G, having catch or detent lc, guide-rod d on thestoek,barrelH,hinge I, pivobally connecting said barrel and sboelr,loeklever J, detachabl y connecting the barrel and stock, and pushwod K, pivoted at one end to the barrel and its other end slidingly connected with the stock, the parts being constructed and arranged substantiially as and for the purposes specified.

\VM. F. MARKHAM.

Vitnesses:

H. S. SPRAGUE, E. J. SCULLY. 

